praying for balance
I pray a lot for balance (for myself and for other people.)
It’s a perenniel problem for most of us, I think. It’s all too easy to get out of balance – all work and no play (and vice versa) isn’t healthy. We also need to learn to be prepared to give and receive spirtual direction; and be both missional (works of mercy) as well as apply ourselves to practicing the spiritual disicplines (works of piety) – and so on.
Easier said than done of course.
Personally I’ve often thought I lurch from one ‘extreme’ to the other -never quite getting it right and always striving for more of God. Today, howeve, this longing for balance opened up for me in a new way. (Certainly being involved in Inspire has really helped me get different perspectives and to grow as a Christian! It’s great!)
One of the new perspectives recently was the thought that being an authentic follower of Jesus is a bit like being a recklessly-careering-downhill skier, who needs balance to keep moving ahead.
As a very novice skiier (who is awaiting January and the ski season!) I like that picture. I like it a lot.
Skiing isn’t easy – I am continually panicing and thinking I can’t do this and what on earth was I thinking when I started this? (grin) … I always feel a bit off balance – but (by the grace of God) I mostly manage not to fall too badly. Mostly!
It’s not enough just to stand at the top of the mountain and admire the view (no matter how spectacular!) … To get downhill you have to push off. And then keep going. The shifting the balance from one leg to another is what keeps the momentum going and it’s exciting and a bit scary too. I’ve jad to learn to look ahead – to anticipate (and avoid) some of the bumps. But there are other obstacles- like the markers on a slalom slope-that I’ve had to learn to negotiate – a bit.
Another friend took this analagy from the winter world of skiing to mountain biking – which I’ve never done and never likely to do now. They compared being a disciple to commiting yourself to the single track. If like me you aren’t sure what that is – this might help …
‘Singletrack’ is a special form of mounting biking with huge challenges … Read why here. (For copywrite reasons I cannot post the whole text here) …
Whichever picture speaks best to you – it’s clear that being a disciple is exciting but fraught with danger too. There are many obstaces along the Way (both spiritual and man-made) and we have to learn to avoid some and negotiate others.
The advice to those singletrackers is simple.
Before riding, always tell a responsible person where you are going. If you do get lost, and fail to return in a timely manner, help can be sent to find you.
To me that’s a reminder that being a Christian isn’t akin to being a lone ranger. Those of us on ‘the Way’ need to journey together (not all the time, and there are moments where we do need to wander off to a quiet place to be with our Father) but generally we need the companionship of fellow followers of Jesus. We need to be held accountable – not just for choices we make - but also so that we can grow as Christians.
‘there’s no such thing as risk-free mission’
I heard that simple axiom over at Cliff last year. It was thrown out in the middle of something about pioneer minstry – and you know how it goes – the moment it fell I knew something (everything) had instantly changed.
Downhill skiing and singletracking as authentic disciples of Christ are just like that. Not risk free – but exhilarating.
When I pray for balance for myself and others in the future – be warned – my definition of a balanced Christian has just changed. Balance is not to remain static – it’s to be on the move with God.
Let us never lose sight of the fact that being a Christian is to be commanded by Jesus to not only be a disciple but also to make and nurture other disciples as together we mature in Christlikeness. Let us never be afraid of losing our balance, afraid to let go, to be out of control and let God have His way in us. Together let’s work hard to stay upright and on the singletrack – i.e. on the Way and right in the centre of the will of God- as we speed downhill going about the Father’s business.
(BTW don’t get too excited. These photos were from last year. We did have a snow flurry last Friday (and eija that freek October snowfall a couple of weeks ago) but it’s not quite winter here yet – though it’s not that far away! brrrrr!!!)
